Working away to catch up on posting 2011’s little treasures! Here’s the preview for the next wedding to be posted shortly!
Category Archives: Weddings
This wedding was really FUN to photograph with Matt! Not just the obvious element photographed directly above (Pinkberry for dessert)! I’m not even referring to the perfectly sweet custom wooden spoons for said cold dessert… (love those thoughtful personal touches. I imagine for DIY brides, it could be a matter of buying wholesale disposable wooden spoons, and getting a custom stamp made. Voila.) Anyhow, I am referring to the couple. They knew how to have a good time, enjoy their day, and most of all enjoy each other. When a flash mob suddenly snuck up on the dance floor, it became clear where they got their contagious positive energy from. I’m not talking about a clumsy, half-commited group of dancers just doing it by request. No. I’m talking perfect precision and rhythm from the bride and groom to the bridal party, to the uncle, pops, granny, ring bearer, you name it. Since the only way to do this dance justice was to capture it in motion (which it brilliantly was by videographer Daniel Boswell and his assistant – His studio offers same day edits/played at the end of the reception if that’s your cup of tea, btw), you will simply have to trust my enthusiastic account of it. Lastly, love the shoes, when you’re not adding a pop of color, you can indulge in sophisticated shimmer!
Aside from what speaks from the photos themselves – like the radiance of the bride, the elegance of the bridesmaids, or the groom’s warm gaze at the altar – there is one thing I’ll say for this entry: As much as I love the time devoted to portraits in general, I’ll confidently say that my favorite moments always sneak up on me be surprise. In this case the last photograph seen directly above. An enchanted, sincere grin as the bride walks away with her husband. Nightfall was fast approaching and the light was low, making this photo grainy and not perfectly sharp. That is precisely why it also feels more tactile and genuine to me versus perfectly lit, perfectly exposed, perfectly perfect photographs. BUT, I am admittedly capricious at imes, so I’ll swing to the other side of the pendulum and say that I do love perfectly beautiful photos too! Perfect natural light is something I relentlessly look for when I have my camera in hand. The point is, my three loyal dear friends the day before a wedding are a huge bottle of water, vitamins, and a long deep sleep — The magical mix for staying alert and mindful to be able to listen, feel,see and sense those those heart beats throughout the day, which come and go with the wind so suddenly. How romantic.
What makes me happy when I arrive at a wedding with my camera? Vineyards, China balls & string lights, white tent… to name a few. Why?
VINEYARDS: self explanatory!
CHINA BALLS & STRING LIGHTS: The lights you choose can turn your wedding site from standard to stunning! Not only can lights create an atmosphere and mood for the reception, they will surely allow your photographer to incorporate them into the images with beautiful results!
WHITE TENT: although common knowledge to photographers, this is a good thing to keep in mind as you plan your special day. As much as we love natural light, once the sun sets or we move indoors for the party, us photogs often end up having to use flash or strobes. Instead of pointing the flash directly at your lovely faces, the option to bounce the flash onto a large white wall will help us in making you look soft and beautiful!
In the end, above anything, a happy bride & groom make for the best photos, no matter what the surrounding environment may be! Shannon & Ian were full of smiles, and by the looks of it their love was contagious; love was in the air in this wine country! Thank you to Matt Dames for allowing me to explore my creativity in this wedding.
CHAMPAGNE TASTING I loved this photo from the moment I verified on my camera’s LCD screen that I actually got it! It was one of those quiet moments of photographer’s bliss when you realize you captured something that lasted merely one second, and that you had the fortune of being there with your camera at hand! The expression on their faces was… well… I hope the image just tells its story on its very own.
Oh, and yes! It made it into PDN’s Wedding Photography Issue. More than anything, I was honored and excited to be selected from so many great entries, and amongst such wonderful photographers. Most notably, Jose Villa, of whom many of us photographers in the wedding industry drool over.